March 21, 2004

The Philippine STAR, Opinion Page

The Presidency: A Matter

of Destiny

By Babe Romualdez

When President Ramon Magsaysay's 47th death anniversary was observed a few days ago, one cannot help but realize that the presidency is really a matter of destiny.  This is something that I've always believed in.  He or she is a product of the times.  That certainly puts this year's election in perspective.  A confluence of events, people, and chance conspire to make a president, or perhaps to un-make one.

Ramon Magsaysay was destined to be President of the Republic of the Philippines.  Unfortunately, he was struck down at the peak of his presidency when the Mt. Pinatubo presidential C-47 crashed.  At such a young age, the reaction of the elders in the family made me realize that he was one of the country's best-loved presidents.

In the early days, who would think that RM would become president?  RM's road to Malacañang was inauspicious.  When World War II broke out, he was working as a mechanic in the bus company owned by his in-laws, the Banzon family.  Many of those buses were used by the US military.  At that time, a US resistance unit officer promoted him to captain to handle transportation.  

Early in life, he already had very strong connections with the United States.  For his honesty and hard work, the US Army awarded him by appointing him provincial military governor launching his political career.  He was a man marked for America's trust.  In the 1946 elections, he easily won a congressional seat.  From there, he set his sights on the chairmanship of the defense committee.

On a 1950 trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby for Filipino war veterans' benefits, a CIA operative based in the Philippines put him together with Lt. Col. Edward Lansdale.  At that time, the United States was deeply concerned over the Huk threat.  They saw in Ramon Magsaysay the man who would win the presidency and beat the Huks.  The US offered support for his political career.

That same year, the US pressured President Elpidio Quirino to appoint Magsaysay as defense secretary in exchange for increased US military assistance.  In their 1953 showdown, Quirino labeled Magsaysay as an Amboy.  This, however, increased his popularity with the masses.  

Fifty years later, the Americans are still at it.  this time, however, instead of the Huks, the US considers the NPA as the single most serious threat to the country's security.  In the 1950's, US military advisers were deployed nationwide to protect the vote.  Today, the US is sending an election observer team from the National Democratic Institute to protect the ballots.  American presence continues to be felt, especially after 911.  

For security reasons, the US secretly kept Magsaysay aboard a US warship, which was cruising around Manila Bay.  He boarded the warship from the US Embassy grounds on Dewey Boulevard where he was informed that he won the elections by almost 70 percent of the vote.  What is important, setting aside the fact that Magsaysay was an Amboy, he understood that economic and social injustices fueled the rebellion.  And so, he started to effect social reforms.  But it was really his charisma and his integrity that brought back the masses' faith in government.  At least, for a while.

Destiny, too, played a role when Quirino was thrust into the presidency one April afternoon in 1948 when President Manuel Roxas died of a heart attack in Clark Field.  Thereafter, Quirino ran for his own mandate in 1949.  The P5,000 brass bed and the golden orenola scandals were allegedly leaked to the press by CIA operatives inside Malacañang, which ultimately, helped Magsaysay defeat Quirino in his 1953 bid for re-election.

It was also destiny that prevented Quirino from leaving the palace to campaign by plaguing him with ulcers.  His time was up.  Destiny withdrew its mandate from a tired and sick man.  The same thing happened in 1986 where the most telling manner of destiny played a role, and maybe even the stars, when Cory Aquino succeeded over Ferdinand Marcos who was very sick at that time.

He was suffering from nephritis, a complication of systemic lupus that progressed rapidly to kidney failure.  Cory Aquino, the housewife, was destined to be president.  Who would imagine that Doy Laurel would sacrifice his lifelong presidential dream to give way to Mrs. Aquino?  This contributed to the confluence of events, people, and chance that resulted in Mrs. Aquino's ascent to power.  Early morning of February 25, 1986, the Americans spirited Marcos away from Clark to Hawaii.  No one doubts that 1986 was one of the most critical moments in the country's history.

Objectively speaking, in my view, EDSA 1 was the only People Power that was justified.  In the May 10 elections, we all know that all candidates are determined to win.  GMA, most especially, not wanting to suffer her father's fate.  But no matter how hard she tries, if she is not meant to be, it will not happen.  Destiny, too, will decide her fate.  

As the Bible says, "The Lord giveth.  The Lord taketh away."  That was also the case with Joseph Estrada.  He had the unique opportunity to unite the poor and the rich, but he blew it.  It was also reported that a psychic predicted that FPJ will become president of this country.  Maybe it could happen or maybe it won't.  But if FPJ and Ping Lacson fail to combine their forces, it may probably be the single event that will give the presidency to GMA.

I've never really believed in astrology, but over the years when one appreciates the patterns and the cycles that govern our lives, I have begun to regard it as a guide on how to go through life.  That's why it is a guiding light as others regard feng shui or the yin and yang.  But it is the Law of Karma that I totally believe in.  Again, as the Bible says, "As you sow, so shall you reap."  That is a law of nature.  I remember what my father used to always admonish me with, "You must always do good to your fellowmen if you want them to do the same."

A good case for karma is the Kennedy family.  Some say that Joseph P. Kennedy's children and grandchildren paid for his sins.  Most people now relate the death of John and Robert, Teddy's failure to run for the presidency because of Chappaquidick, and of course, the misfortunes of John Kennedy, Jr. and the other grandchildren as karma.  But in this election, no one can dispute that this is absolutely critical.

There is no question in my mind that it will be destiny that will decide who will be president.  No matter how much anyone wants it, if it is not meant to be, it will not happen.  The confluence of events will ultimately bring the presidency to the chosen one.  The candidates can only propose, but it is destiny that will dispose.

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